Dental cleaning and massage device



March 30, 1937. WELKER y 2,075,681

DENTAL CLEANING AND MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Aug. 2, 1935 Patented Mar. 3o, 1937 "UNITED STATES DENTAL CLEANING AND MASSAGE DEVICE Harry Logue Welker, Williamsport,

4 claims.

This invention relates to a device for cleaning the teeth and massage device adapted primarily for temporary use.

The invention relates to devices designed for 5 temporary use in the cleansing of teeth and massaging the gums of the persons who might find such use necessary or desirable. t

It is a common occurrence for travelers and overnight guests to forget the ordinary toothbrush or dental paste, orl both, with the result that a new toothbrush or cleanser must be purchased, or the teeth neglected. In my invention, a cheap, temporary cleaning device is provided containing suicient paste to insure at least one proper cleaning of the teeth and massage of the gums.

My device is intended to be installed in hotel rooms and pullman cars, etc., wrapped in sanitary paper, and placed at the disposal of guests and travelers just as are soap and towels. After.

the guest has used the device, itmay be thrown away and a fresh one used subsequently.

Heretofore, flexible dental cleaning devices have been provided with reservoirs for containing a dentifrice; but where the dentifrice is a powder, the reservoir surface is usually a mesh through which the powder may work, or in the case of paste, open discharge ports which do not hold the paste securely. Such constructions are highly objectionable in that air and germs have access to the dentifrice, with consequent deterioration; whereas, in my invention the dentifrice is sealed at all times until actually used, the discharge ports being normally closed, and opening only when pressure is applied to the reservoir.

The principal object of the invention in its preferred form is to provide a dental cleaning and massage structure of rubber or other flexible material having a reservoir for tooth paste, the whole being adapted to lit as a cot on thefinger of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide the reservoir with discharge openings normally closed to prevent the paste from evaporating, but which open upon pressure being exerted by the t ringer of the user against the teeth and gums.

4Other objects of the invention will appear as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective of one form of the cleaning device shown in position on the linger of a user;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan of a blank showing the front face of the said device as molded;

Application August 2, 19,35, Serial No. 34,470

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line twat of Figure 5 is a perspective view of e preferred. form of the invention shownin position for use;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line tim-5 of 5- Flgure 5;

Figure '1 `is` a longitudinal central section., te an enlarged scale, of thefform shown in Figure; land Figure 8fis an exploded perspective'of the pre' 10 ferred form.

vIn the form of the invention lshown in Figur-eslv 1 to 4, the device comprises a cot made from rubber or other flexible waterproof and air tight material. The cot I comprises atubular structure 2 15 adapted to beslipped over the finger oi the user substantially `as shown in Figure lof the drawing. Along one side of the structure 2, there is pro'- vided a thickened portion 3, having bristles 4' projecting outwardly from the face ti'iereo. '20

Rearwardly ofthe thickened portion 3, there is' provided a reservoir 5 adapted to receivea dentifrice, preferably of the paste type. To provide for the admission and ejection of the dentifrice,- the thickened portion 3 is provided with a series 25 of slits 6, normally closed by the natural resilu ience of the material from. which the device is made. v. .4

As shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing, v the reservoir 5 extends throng-hout the greater ,3G part of the length of the cot structure 2;- and the thickened portion 3 is provided with a rearwardly -projecting strip l, intended to be pressed by the 1 thumb of the userfor holding the cot rmly upon the finger during the operation thereof. I f 35 l As this form isr actually made, the rubber is intended to be mold'ed in sheets, as shown in Figure 3, with thebristlesl extending in rows `8 and 9 and separated bya depression I0 through which the slits 6 extend. These slits are preferably 44g made by a knife ofthe thin razor' blade type, so I that the natural resilience of the material causes the apertures to close, as soon as the cuttingv blade is withdrawn therefrom. I n this form of the invention, the paste or other dentifrice willv 45 have to be introduced by pressure exerted from the face of thethickened portion 3, through 'the sms s. 4

The form of the invention shown' in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, is preferr,ed` because it is much 50 easier to manufacture than the other form,` and the dentifrice can lbe introduced into the reservoir without having to exert pressure through vthe v slotted massaging face of the device. In this form of the invention, the cot l I is made sepau 55 rate from the cleaning and massaging part I2; and is provided with a series of inwardly directed ridges |3, I4, and I5 designed to provide an outlet for the air in the cot While the latter is being forced upon the nger of the user.

The dentifrice reservoir is formed as a recess I6 in the cot and of a size to receive a charge I1 of dentrifrice sufficient for several cleaning and massaging operations. The massaging and cleaning portion I2 is formed as a flat plate |8 having bristles I9 projecting from one face thereof; and having a holding tab or strip 20 projecting from the rear end of the plate I8. In this form of the invention, slits 2| are cut through the strip I8 by a knife of the razor blade type, so thin as to permit the slits 2| to close by the natural resilience of the material from which the plate I8 is made.

The cot and plate |8 are separately made. The recess I6 is first filled with the desired charge of dentifrice 22; then the strip I8 is applied to the cot so that the slits 2| shall be in position to permit discharge ofthe dentifrice 22 upon the application of pressure by the finger of the user on the rear of thereservoir |6 and against the teeth and gums of the user.

The invention is not particularly concerned with any apparatus or method of making the same. The claims appended hereto will be directed to the invention as an article of manufacture, regardless of any'machine or method which may be utilized in the-form mentioned thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A dental cleaning and massaging device comprising a finger cot of resilient material having inwardly directed ridges extending lengthwise thereof and having a recess formed therein to receive a charge of dentifrice, a plate of resilient material having bristles projecting from one face thereof and secured to said cot to cover said recess, saidv plate being provided'with an aperture normally closed but adapted to be opened by pressure applied to said recess and bristles to discharge dentifrice from the recess on to said bristles.

2. A dental cleaning and massaging device comprising a finger cot of resilient material having inwardly directed ridges extending lengthwise thereof and having a recess formed therein to receive a charge of dentifrice, a plate of resilient material having bristles projecting from one face thereof and secured to said cot to cover said recess, said plate being provided with an aperture normally closed but adapted to be opened by pressure applied to said recess and bristles to discharge dentifrice from the recess on to said bristles, said plate having a tab projecting from one end thereof to be clamped between the fingers of the user.

3. A dental cleaning and massaging device comprising a nger cot of resilient material, having a recess formed therein to receive a charge of dentifrice, a plate of resilient material having bristles projecting from one face thereof and secured to said cot to cover said recess, said plate being provided with an aperture normally closed but adapted to be opened by pressure applied to said recess and bristles to discharge dentifrice from the recess on to said bristles.

4. A dental cleaning and massaging device comprising 'a finger cot of resilient material, having a recess formed therein to receive a charge of dentifrice, a plate of resilient material having bristles projecting from one face thereof and secured to said cot to cover said recess, said plate being provided with an aperture normally closed but adapted to be opened by pressure applied to said recess and bristles to discharge dentifrice from the recess on to said bristles, said plate having a tab projecting from one end thereof to be clamped between the fingers of the user.

HARRY LOGUE WELKER. 

